Iron Woman takes on Ironman
She’s a mother of two, works full time, is studying towards a degree and if that’s not enough Panu Te Whaiti is about to compete in her first solo half ironman.
In December the 37 year old will take part in Napier’s Iron Maori, a grueling two kilometre swim, 90km bike and 21km run.
With the help of life coaches Heather Te Au Skipworth and Missy Mackey in five years the former couch potato has completely transformed her life. Te Whaiti was a heavy drinker, smoker, extremely over weight and resigned to the fact that this was how life was supposed to be.
“I thought this was how it was for me cleaning for a living, smoking, drinking and sitting around doing nothing was normal too.”
Now 50 kilos lighter, smoke free and sober, she swims, bikes and runs hundreds of kilometers every week but her remarkable transformation doesn’t stop there. She now works as a Kaitakawaenga or community support, studies nursing fulltime and regularly speaks to groups about making positive life changes and losing weight, as well as finding time for her husband Tui and their two boys Nathaniel and Malchi.
When asked how she manages such a heavy load she remained typically humble, “When you lay it all out like that it sounds like a lot,” she said.
“I think when something is important you’ll make time for it. When I was drinking and smoking that was the priority and I found time and money to do it. Now that I have stopped, I have adjusted my lifestyle around training and learning. I love spending time with my family so it’s easy to make time for that.”
Although Iron Maori will be her longest event so far, Te Whaiti feels well prepared and already has an impressive record of personal achievements.
She has completed three Shed Two triathlons, the Iron Maori duathlon, two half marathons and more recently completed the Real Womans duathlon with her sister.
“Finishing that race with my sister was an awesome feeling. We’ve made some big changes and now we’re out there and getting active together.”
Te Whaiti is realistic about her journey so far and will be the first to tell you it hasn’t been an easy.
“It’s been hard, real hard but the rewards are worth it. I’ve changed my life and the people around me have changed too.”
Remaining modest, she credits Mackey and Te Au Skipworth with giving her the confidence to make changes. “They really are my angels. Missy pushes me from the back and Heather yells at me from the front.”
Motivating those around her seems to be what motivates the quiet achiever the most.
“My husband has become more active and we are more active as a family. My sisters have joined me too and that’s huge that we are all doing it together.”
Earlier in the year while competing in the Iron Maori Duathlon in Wellington Te Whaiti noticed a competitor struggling and stayed back to run with him.
“I noticed this young guy struggling and I remembered what it was like and how other people helped push me. So I decided to give up my race and help this guy get through.”
Despite watching her training partners and many competitors she had beaten before pass her, Te Whaiti stayed with the man till the end, coming in an hour and a half behind everyone else.
“He got a trophy and now is inspired to go on and that’s what it’s all about.”
Her study and work goals, unsurprisingly, revolve around sport and helping others as well. The straight A Nursing student plans to work as a nurse for the Iron Maori team assisting people with weight lose. She believes that focusing on improving one area of your life can instigate change in other areas.
“I stood back and looked at my weight and started getting more active. When you confront yourself like that you can see all your issues and take steps towards improving.”
She now works as part of the immunisation team for the Hawkes Bay District Health Board and says she gained the confidence to apply for the role from the changes she had already made.
“I never had the confidence to do anything. As Heather and Missy continued to push me and I kept achieving things I gained the confidence to apply for the Kaitakawaenga role and study nursing.”
When asked what has been the most rewarding part of her journey, with obvious emotion she counts the changes her family has made and the support they have given her as the most rewarding thing.
“My husband and my boys have always been there for me and now we are getting active together. My sisters are out there doing it with me too,” she said.
“I’ve had a few moments over the past few years but probably one of the biggest was when my son stood up at youth group and said ‘my name is Nathaniel and I come from a sporting family’ I’m not shy to say I got a little bit emotional.”